Game of Thrones Beer: Winter is Here

The aftertaste is nigh poetic: "gradually build[ing] in a warming crescendo of peppery spice."

HBO and Ommegang’s Brewery have revealed the next addition to their Game of Thrones beer series: Winter is Here. You can buy the 750ml bottle separately or paired with the Fire and Blood edition and a “special commemorative glass.” Either is available nationwide with individual bottles going for $11.99 USD and the gift set for $23.99 USD.

Winter is Here is labelled as a “double white ale” and contains quite the series of wheat malts on the lighter side, Saaz hops, and “spiced with white pepper, sea salt, coriander and sweet orange peel.”

This all combines to what is described as “aromas of banana, clove,” and pepper. They certainly make the taste sound unique as well, as something a little sweet with “hints of sea salt.” The aftertaste is nigh poetic, as it “gradually builds in a warming crescendo of peppery spice.”

If you are interested in the gift set with Fire and Blood, the latter is labelled as a “red ale brewed with ancho chilies.” Revealed back in 2014, the Fire and Blood ale is made with a series of rye malts, Styrian Golding and German Tettnang hops, and the aforementioned ancho chilies.

All of which combines to a surprisingly fruity aroma, like raisins, with a “slight floral, spicy hop character.” The taste is somewhat dry and mildly spicy, not fruity at all apparently.

The Winter is Here bottle is decorated with the face of a White Walker, so iconic to the series. Fire and Blood has Drogon, Daenerys’ favourite dragon. The commemorative glass in the gift set simply has the logo of the TV series in a shining gold.

There is certainly nothing like a good ale to keep you warm through the coming winter months, especially with the spice Winter is Here provides. If you’re feeling as poetic as the press release, I suggest lightly flavoured meals with Winter is Here and heavy flavourful meals with Fire and Blood.